Bent County register., 1887-07-23
Fun At a Ball.


1t was the chief socia! event of
the season in which i1 occurred, and
elaborated preparations were made.
1t took place in the largest hall in
town, located over the Golden Bowl
saloon, which institution had bar
in it that would hurt your eyes 10
look at.
There was an orchestra brought
down at great expenses from Ger
man settlement at the head of Stray
Horse Greek. There were four or
five in this band, including a big fid-
die trained to stand up on its fore.
legs, which had a piece of barbed
wire for its longest string, We all
went who were living in town. and u
scope of country as large as the
State of Jersey was ransacked to fur
nish ladies enough to make it inter-
esting.
The gentlemen connected with
Spaulding's ranch also came. They
were fond of society, and it might
be said they were In Estelline's soci-
al swim. There was Mr. Bill Hos
letter and Big Jack and Long Jack.
If we remember rightly, Mr.. Pock-
marked Smith and Mr.. Patsy Dough-
erty were present. We are positive
that Snub 'em Pete and Mr.. Dennis
McCasey were in the party, as well
as Wisconsin 10, Buck Reno and
Jimmy the Road Agent.
The gentlemen were feeling well
when they left the ranch. On arriv-
ing in town they rode into the Gold
en- Bowl saloon, and up to the bar
and sampled the stock of foreign and
domestic liquors, after which they
punched their horses in the street
and came up to the scene of the fes.
tiyities.
Promptly at o'clock the head
musician drew ripsaw across the
harbed wire string of the big fiddle,
and the floor manager yelled Form
on!"
Then we all danced, the big fiddle
groaned, the little fiddle screehed
and the parlor organ borrowed from
the First Baptist Church
could occasionally be heard when
the other stopped to rest. Each
danced as long as he or she could,
the floor shook, the lamps swung, the
the man who called off got his nose
up in the air and yelled and the big
fiddle roared. Everything went
smoothly till the second dance after
the supper taken at the Headquarters
Hotel
At this point the ranch gentlemen
came up in body-they had before
been dividing their time between the
ballroom and the dispensary below.
They came in and drifted up to
the head of the hall, when suddenly
Bill Hostetter jumped up and cracked
his heels three times together and
yelled:
"Wour-reck! I'm er terror. Var.
r-r."
The man who was playing the
church organ fell back ward off the
platform and started for the door on
his hands and knees.
Then Buck Reno jumped up and
struck his head against the ceiling
twice before be came down, and
whooped:
"Ra-r-r-r! ra-r-l-r! Som I! Yo-
ow."
Long Jack threw his hat on the
floor and turned handspring in
which his feet broke hanging lamp,
and then howled:
"Yi-hi-yi-hi-youck. 1 wanter fight.
Stop yer bull fiddle. Viii"
The violinist reached the door in
two jumps. The rest of us were 60
ing all the time.
"Pm er murderer" yelled pock.
marked Smith.
"Whoo-pe, whoo-pe, ki-vike, ki-vike.
ki-vike, ki-vike," yelled Patsy Dough
erty as he beat the floor with a chair.
"Clear this year hall er I'll eat yer.
Git out er I'll drink yer blood."
whooped Big Jack. :. :.
Say; I've shot men in 'leven ter
rItories." said Jimmy, the road-agent,